Machine for stripping off the copper coating from a basic plate for the production of start sheets for electrolytic refinement of copper

ABSTRACT

A machine for stripping off the copper coating from a basic plate for the production of start sheets for electrolytic refinement of copper comprises a stripping mechanism which may include one or two reciprocating knives guided to have the edge or edges thereof moved along the side or sides of the basic plate to remove continuous pieces of sheet metal from said basic plate. The basic plates are suspended from a conveyor to be individually fed to the stripping mechanism, and there are means for applying oil to the basic plate after stripping to make said plate ready for electrolytic deposition of a fresh coating or copper thereon. Means receiving the stripped start sheet or sheets are adapted to transfer the latter to a further conveyor for transportation to a start sheet machine.

United States Patent MACHINE FOR STRIPPING OFF THE COPPER COATING FROM A BASIC PLATE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF START SHEETS FOR ELECTROLYTIC REFINEMENT OF COPPER 2 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 156/584, 204/12, 204/208, 204/226 Int. Cl. B321) Field of Search 15 6/5 84,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,525,075 2/1925 Hill 204/12 3,501,385 3/1970 .lasberg 204/12 1,553,080 9/1925 Hill 204/226 Primary Examiner-Samuel Feinberg Attorney Young & Thompson ABSTRACT: A machine for stripping off the copper coating from a basic plate for the production of start sheets for electrolytic refinement of copper comprises a stripping mechanism which may include one or two reciprocating knives guided to have the edge or edges thereof moved along the side or sides of the basic plate to remove continuous pieces of sheet metal from said basic plate. The basic plates are suspended from a conveyor to be individually fed to the stripping mechanism, and there are means for applying oil to the basic plate after stripping to make said plate ready for electrolytic deposition of a fresh coating or copper thereon. Means receiving the stripped start sheet or sheets are adapted to transfer the latter to a further conveyor for transportation to a start sheet machine.

PATENTED on: 71911 3625.806

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MACHINE FOR STRIPPING OFF THE COPPER COATING FROM A BASIC PLATE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF START SHEETS FOR ELECTROLYTIC REFINEMENT OF COPPER Electrolytic refinement of copper is carried out in electrolytic cells in which coarse copper at the anodes is decomposed in an electrolyte and in the form of pure copper is precipitated onto cathodes, the main parts of which are thin sheets of pure copper. These sheets together with suspension members attached thereto are termed start sheets. These start sheets are intended to be arranged comparatively closely spaced between the anodes in the electrolytic cell, and for this reason they must be as plane as possible. The invention relates to a machine which is able automatically to perform one step in the production of the main parts, i.e., the thin copper sheets, of the start sheets. The copper sheets are made by aid of what may be termed basic plates which are provided with suspension members and electrolytically are to be coated with copper. The smooth and bare basic plates which in addition to the suspension members at their upper marginal portions may be provided with a frame covering the remaining marginal portion are suspended in the form of cathodes between copper anodes in special electrolytic cells. The basic plates have been coated with a solution-are oiledto facilitate the removal of the copper sheets. After some time a thin copper coating is formed on both sides of the basic plate. Consequently two start sheets can be obtained as a rule from each basic plate. The purpose of the machine according to the invention is automatically to remove or strip off both copper coatings from the basic plate in a manner such that plane start sheets are obtainable from the removed, thin copper sheets. Another object of the invention is to provide suitable conveyor means for automatic feeding the basic plates to the place where the coatings are removed from the basic plates by means of a stripping mechanism. A further object is to provide means for applying oil to the basic plates after removal of the coatings. A still further object is the provision of conveyor means for conveying the stripped basic plates to and from the oil-applying station.

According to the invention there is provided a machine for stripping off the copper coating from a basic plate for the production of start sheets for electrolytic refinement of copper, wherein the machine comprises a stripping mechanism for removing the copper coating in the form of continuous pieces of sheet metal, from the basic plate, a conveyor from which basic plates are suspended to be individually fed to the stripping mechanism, depositing means for transferring the removed copper sheet or sheets (start sheets) to a conveyor for further transportation, and means for applying oil to the basic plate to facilitate the removal of the copper coating to be deposited thereon.

According to a feature of the invention the stripping mechanism comprises a reciprocating knife, a guiding device for the knife, and a holding device for retaining the coated basic plate during the stripping operation, the shape of the guide member being such, and the holding device being disposed in such a position relative to the guide member and the knife that the edge of the knife during movement of the knife in one direction is moved into engagement with the basic plate and detaches the coating therefrom, whereas the knife during movement in the opposite direction is removed from the basic plate and returned into an initial position out of engagement with the basic plate.

Advantageously the machine is provided with knives for stripping both sides of the basic plate so as to remove two start sheet blanks at the same time from the plate, but it is also conceivable to provide the machine with a single knife or knives for engaging one side of the basic plate at a time. It is especially important that the stripping be effected such that the detached sheets retain their plane shape and that they are conveyed from the stripping mechanism in a manner such that the plane shape is not changed. In order to attain these advantages the machine is provided with a holding device for retaining the basic plate during the stripping operation, which holding device consists of lateral supporting plates adapted to be turned about a horizontal pivot toward and away from a basic plate placed between the lateral supporting plates. The supporting plates may make an angle with arms which carry the supporting plates and connect them to the horizontal pivot so that the supporting plates are diverging from each other and, in a position inwhich the arms are turned upwardly toward the lower edge of the basic plate for retaining same, leave free spaces on either side of the basic plate to make the sides thereof accessible to the knives. Due to the fact that the basic plate can be clamped in this way during the stripping operation it can be devised in a satisfactory manner without damages to the copper sheets. The sheets stripped off from the basicplate will place themselves onto the lateral supporting plates and can be deposited thereby onto the conveyor for further transportation.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of an embodiment illustrated in the annexed drawing.

FIG. 1 is a lateral elevation,

FIG. 2 a plan view, and

FIG. 3 an end view of the machine FIG. 4 illustrates the knife mechanism and the upper part of the holding device in a manner similar to FIG. I but to an enlarged scale,

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view to an enlarged scale of a detail of the holding device,

FIG. 6 is a lateral elevation of the holding device in a position for retaining a basic plate,

FIG. 7 illustrates the path of the stripping knife edge along one side of a basic plate at the start of a stripping operation, the basic plate being shown in vertical section and on an enlarged scale,

FIG. 8 is a vertical projection of the lower part of one side of the basic plate together with supporting means for the lower edge of the basic plate,

FIG. 9 is a vertical projection of a lateral supporting plate in a position turned downwards over a roller conveyor as viewed toward the ends of the rollers and with the lateral supporting plate partly broken away,

FIG. 10 illustrates a plan view of a basic plate,

FIG. 11 a vertical sectional view thereof, an

FIG. 12 an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 12-12 in FIG. 10. r

The machine illustrated comprises a stripping mechanism A for removing the copper coating from a basic plate B, a conveyor C from which basic plates are suspended and by means of which the plates are individually fed to the stripping mechanism, a holding device D including depositing means for placing the removed copper sheet or sheets onto one or two transverse conveyors E and E and a longitudinally extending conveyor F for further transportation of the copper sheets.

Each of the basic plates fed into the machine consists of a copper plate 10, the upper marginal portion of which is secured to a strip or rod 12 and the main parts of the lateral marginal portions and the entire lower marginal portion of which are covered by a frame 14. Within the frame 14 each side of the plates 10 has a copper coating 16. At the top end below the rod 12 the plate 10 has a pair of openings 18 for a purpose to be explained hereinbelow. By means of the rods 12 the basic plates entering the machine are suspended from the upper runs of endless chains 20,22 of a chain conveyor. The chains run about sprockets 24 on a shaft 26 at one end of a frame 28 which extends throughout the length of the machine. The sprockets 24 are disposed at the inlet end of the frame of the machine. Sprockets 30 for the chains are provided at a certain distance from the opposite end of the frame. The frame 28 comprises horizontal beams 32 on top of which there are provided reciprocating bars34. The bars 34 are located near and laterally of the sprockets 30 so that the ends of the rods 12 of the basic plates will be moved by the upper runs of the chain conveyor over the bars and conveyed by the bars to the stripping mechanism A. The feeding movement is effected on each side by a cylinder 36 and an appertaining piston 38, the portion of which projecting from the cylinder is in the form of a rack in engagement with a gear wheel'40 secured to transverse studs 42. These studs have also secured to them a pair of gear wheels 44, each of which is in mesh with teeth 46 on the upper sides of the bars 34. If the piston rod 38 makes a whole stroke in the direction away from the cylinder 36, the bars 34 are advanced toward the stripping mechanism to an extent corresponding to the distance between the stripping mechanism and the discharge end of the conveyor 20-30. Consequently the basic plates will be discharged one at a time from the conveyor and transferred to the stripping mechanism.

The stripping mechanism is supported by a structure mounted on the frame of the machine. This structure comprises trestles 48 mounted on each of the frame beams 32 and a transverse beam 50 which is in the form of an inverted U in cross section. Centrally of the trestles 48 there are provided vertical guide rods 52, the lower ends of which are secured to the beams 32 of the frame and the top ends of which are secured to the transverse U-beam 50. Mounted on the guide rods 52 are sleeves 54 which form parts of a slide device 56 which in addition consists of a pair of transverse beams 58 and a holder portion 60 which, as shown in FIG. 3, is provided midway between the trestles 48. Secured to the holder portion 60 is a pair of bearing arms 62 which carry a transverse pivot 64 for a pair of knives 66. In the embodiment illustrated there are provided two pairs of knives 66,66, one pair on either side of the basic plate. In FIG. 1 both pairs of knives are shown, whereas FIG. 4 illustrates only one pair. The knives extend downwards below the pivot 64. An upwardly extending arm 68 is at its lower end secured to the knives 66 and at its upper end provided with a pin or roller 70 which slidingly fits a guide groove 72 in a bar 74, the upper end of which is secured to the transverse beam 50. The holder portion 60 has a projection 76. A hydraulic cylinder 80 with a piston 82 extends between the projection 76 and a bracket 78 secured to the transverse beam 50. The outer end of the piston 82 is secured to the projection 76 so that the holder portion 60 and the entire slide device can be moved up and down by means of the hydraulic jack formed by the cylinder 80 and the piston 82. During this upward and downward movement the pin or roller 70 is displaced along the groove 72 which is shaped such that the knife during a downward stroke is first moved vertically to pass the rod 12. The groove 72 has a curved upper portion 73 and a curved lower portion 75. When the pin or roller 70 passes this curved portion 73, the upper end of the arm 68 is turned outwardly, and the edge of the knife which is now in engagement with the coating is turned inwardly. The edge of the knife continues vertically until, the pin or roller 70 is moved inwardly by the curved portion 75 of the curve 72 and as a consequence the edge of the knife is moved outwardly so as to detach the coating from the basic plate. In FIG. 7 the path of the edge of the knife is indicated by a dotted line 81.

As will be the basic plates B, which by means of the bars 34 are advanced to the stripping mechanism, are suspended by their rods 12 from recesses 83 in the bars. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 the lower edge of the basic plate rests on supporting members 86 which are vertically adjustable by means of hydraulic jacks 84. During the stripping operation the basic plate B is also kept in place by the holding device D which consists of lateral supporting plates 88 adapted to be turned about a horizontal pivot 90 toward and away from the basic plate placed therebetween. The lateral supporting plates make an angle with arms 92 (FIGS. 1 and 6) which carry the supporting plates and connect them to the horizontal pivot 90 so that the supporting plates are diverging from each other in a position in which the arms are turned upwardly toward the lower edge of the basic plate for retaining this plate and in which the arms leave free spaces on either side of the basic plate to make the sides thereof accessible to the knives. The lateral supporting plates 88 have projections or bosses 94 on their sides which face the basic plate. As shown in FIG. the

projections or bosses 94 clamp between themselves the lower portion of the frame 14 0f the basic plate when the lateral supporting plates 88 are turned inwardly toward the basic plate for the stripping operation. The arms 92 of the lateral supporting plates 88 have lateral flaps 96 which bridge the space between the arm 92 immediately below the supporting members 86. The function of the preferably arcuate lateral flaps is to prevent the stripped of? copper sheets which havee placed themselves on the lateral supporting plates 88 from sliding down therefrom into the spaced therebetween after the lateral supporting plates have been turned outwards about the pivot for depositing have the copper sheets.

The lateral supporting plates 88 serve as depositing means for the copper sheets detached from the basic plate. To this end the lateral supporting plates are in the form of grates and connected to the piston 98 of hydraulic cylinders 100 which are mounted on pivots 102 on a portion 104 of the frame of the machine. The roller conveyors E and IE extend horizontally and transversely on either side of the stripping mechanism and are adapted to receive the deposited copper sheets. Due to the fact that the lateral supporting plates 88 are in the form of grates they can be turned down to such an extent that their upper sides are below the highest points of the rollers of the transverse conveyors as is indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 also shows the supporting plates in their turned down positions. After the stripped off sheets have been layed down in this position by the lateral supporting plates 88 they are received on the rollers and transferred by the roller conveyors to oblique supports 159,159 on the longitudinally extending conveyor F. After the supports 159 have been completely loaded, hydraulic lifts 158,158 lower them to deposit them on the rollers of the conveyor F. On a first portion 106 of the conveyor F they are moved with one lateral edge shead onto a suitably manually operable turntable 108 on which the supports 159' are turned through an angle of 180 so as to assume like positions for continued treatment and assembling to start sheets.

The machine includes means for applying oil to the basic plates 10 after the stripping operation in order to make the basic plates ready for renewed precipitation thereon of copper for the production of new copper sheets. The oil applying means is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 at the outlet end of the machine and in FIG. 3.

After the copper sheets have been removed from the basic plate 10 by means of the stripping mechanism A they are suspended from the outer ends of the bars 34 by means of their rods. After the bars 34 have been displaced from this position one step by means of the hydraulic cylinder 36 and piston 38 and the gearing 40,42,44 the stripped basic plate is moved one step to the right from the position 100 as viewed in FIG. I to the position 10c at the right end of the machine, and at the same time the next following basic plate is advanced from the position 10b at the end 30 of the conveyor shown in FIG. 1 into the position 1011 at the stripping mechanism A. As previously mentioned each basic plate has a pair of recesses or openings 18 at the upper end. A pair of pivotally mounted flaps 110 on a carriage 1 12 movable transversely of the machine is received in the openings 18 and carries the basic plate. As shown in FIG. 3 the carriage 112 is driven by a chain 114 which runs about a sprocket l 16 and a tension wheel 118. The sprocket 116 is mounted on a shaft which is driven by a motor 112 via a wheel 120. By means of the carriage 112 the basic plate can be moved transversely of the machine from the position 10c to a position 10d right above a tank 124 which contains a suitable oil mixture. In the position 10d the suspension rod 12 of the basic plate is caught by a pair of clamping members 126 on a lifting device 128 which by means of a slidable sleeve 130 is guided on a vertical guide rod 132. The lifting device comprises a preferably hydraulic cylinder I34 and a piston rod 136 which is secured to a projection 138 on the sleeve 130, FIG. 3. By means of the lifting device the basic plate can be lowered from the position 10d down into the tank 124 to the.position indicated in dotted lines 10c in FIG. 3.

After the basic plate has been immersed it is lifted again and transferred to a discharge conveyor comprising chains 140 running about sprockets 142,144 in a lateral part 146 of the frame. The chains 104 are moved stepwise by a hydraulic cylinder 148 and a stepping mechanism 150 and a driving chain 152.

For conveying the oiled and lifted basic plates from their topmost positions above the tank 124 there are provided inclined slip planes 156 which by means of a hydraulic cylinder 160 can be moved inwardly below the rods 12 of the basic plates. In the position shown in FIG. 1 the rod 12 of the basic plate can slide along the slip plane 156 downwards onto the conveyor 140,142,144.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for stripping off the copper coating from a basic plate for the production of start sheets for electrolytic refinement of copper, comprising a stripping mechanism for removing the copper coating in the form of continuous pieces of sheet metal from the basic plate, means from which basic plates are suspended to be individually fed to the stripping mechanism, lateral supports mounted on each side of the stripping means pivotally in relation to said means to receive each stripped-off copper sheet in a position of said supports forming acute angles with the basic plate being stripped and to be pivoted to a depositing position, means for receiving said stripped-off sheets in said depositing position, and vertically adjustable members for supporting the lower edge of the basic plate during the stripping operation.

2. A machine for stripping off the copper coating from a basic plate for the production of start sheets for electrolytic refinement of copper, comprising a stripping mechanism for removing the copper coating in the form of continuous pieces of sheet metal from the basic plate, means from which basic plates are suspended to be individually fed to the stripping mechanism, lateral supports mounted on each side of the stripping means pivotally in relation to said means to receive each stripped-off copper sheet in a position of said supports forming acute angles with the basic plate being stripped and to be pivoted to a depositing position, means for receiving said stripped-off sheets in said depositing position, and a frame, said lateral supports having projections on their sides which face the basic plate, said projections clamping between themselves the lower portion of said frame, said lower portion of said frame peripherally surrounding the basic plate in a vertical position thereof when the lateral supports are turned inwardly towards the basic plate for the stripping operation. 

2. A machine for stripping off the copper coating from a basic plate for the production of start sheets for electrolytic refinement of copper, comprising a stripping mechanism for removing the copper coating in the form of continuous pieces of sheet metal from the basic plate, means from which basic plates are suspended to be individually fed to the stripping mechanism, lateral supports mounted on each side of the stripping means pivotally in relation to said means to receive each stripped-off copper sheet in a position of said supports forming acute angles with the basic plate being stripped and to be pivoted to a depositing position, means for receiving said stripped-off sheets in said depositing position, and a frame, said lateral supports having projections on their sides which face the basic plate, said projections clamping between themselves the lower portion of said frame, said lower portion of said frame peripherally surrounding the basic plate in a vertical position thereof when the lateral supports are turned inwardly towards the basic plate for the stripping operation. 